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Colorado snowfall lifts spirits as winter weather arrives

By Ryan ParkerThe Denver Post

Posted:
12/20/2012 12:01:00 AM MST

Updated:
12/20/2012 09:08:05 AM MST

Casey Boder, 16, sleds down the middle of Silver Street in historic downtown Silver Plume on Wednesday as resident Sarah Street takes a less adventurous route — the sidewalk. Snow continued to fall in the area throughout much of the day. (RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post)

For powder-buffs, firefighters and forecasters, Colorado finally looked a lot like Christmas on Wednesday, as massive dumps of white gold landed in the high country.

Coloradans went from pent up to bundled up as a snowstorm blanketed the state, from the mountains to the plains. The snow was a welcome guest — boosting snowpack, resort enticement and wildfire suppression — but it also wreaked havoc on drivers and closed major roadways.

And it ain't over.

Nolan Doesken, state climatologist based at Colorado State University, said there will most likely be snow on the ground when Santa takes to the air.

"There is continued favorable storm-tracking through the country until the end of December," Doesken said. "There's another storm in sight (for Colorado) before Christmas."

Not only great for locals, the snow's arrival will entice an influx of tourists to the state, Rudolph said.

Skiing at Copper Mountain on Wednesday, Rob Reuteman said the snow gods were generous.

"I couldn't ask for more," said Reuteman, a former business editor at the Rocky Mountain News. "Plenty of fresh snow to ski on, and snowing hard enough that tracks are covered by the time you take the lift back to the top."

Kate Lessman, spokeswoman for Vail Resorts, said Beaver Creek received 16 inches of snow in the past four days.

"There have been years like this in the past where the snow gets here slower than we'd like," she said. "We are thrilled it has arrived."

The snow not only made conditions great for those looking to get out and play, but it also helped in suppressing a wildfire burning west of Estes Park since Oct. 9.

The Fern Lake fire is not completely out, but with more than 12 inches of snow falling in the area, the fire's potential to spread has been greatly reduced, said Rocky Mountain National Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson.

"There will be small, isolated areas of smoldering, and it may produce visible smoke in the coming days," she said. "Keep in mind: The fire is also in the Forest Canyon area, where it initially started."

Believed to have been sparked from an illegal campfire, the Fern Lake fire destroyed one cabin while burning about 3,500 acres in the national park.

Although many positives have come from the snow, it caused chaos on the roads.

There were multiple accidents Wednesday, and weather conditions forced the closure of Interstate 70 from Aurora to the Kansas border throughout the day and into the evening. Vail Pass was closed for part of the afternoon, for avalanche control.

"This is a good reminder to keep speeds down," said Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Mindy Crane.